Exploring the Experiences of Academically Successful NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Student-Athletes

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 14
  In Roundtable Session: Motivating and Supporting Student Groups Throughout College

Abstract

There is an appropriate place for intercollegiate athletics within higher education, and intercollegiate student-athletes should be provided with significant and meaningful educational opportunities. However, popular narrative largely ignores the academic identities and academic successes of intercollegiate student-athletes. Utilizing the qualitative research strategy of phenomenology, academically successful student-athletes from the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision will be interviewed to understand their lived experiences of academic and social integration. This study will allow for a thorough exploration of how intercollegiate football student-athletes achieve and maintain academic success. The findings of this study will provide in-depth insights for higher education practitioners to develop intervention strategies to enhance the integration of football student-athletes into the larger campus community; thereby increasing their potential for academic success.

Author

• Wendy Dunn, California State University - Fresno